New lightweight returnable PET bottle with recycled content
Together with the KHS Group, ALPLA has developed a returnable PET container that is very light at 55 grams and consists of up to 35 per cent recyclate.
29. July 2020
(Image: Oleksiy Mark / shutterstock.com)
Together with the KHS Group, the Austrian packaging expert ALPLA has developed a returnable PET container that is very light at 55 grams. The high recyclate content of up to 35% also has a positive effect on the environmental balance of the 1-litre bottle.
The new returnable PET bottle is characterised by its low weight and high recycled content. Investment builder KHS follows his commandment „Reduce and recycle“, as Arne Wiese, Product Manager Bottles & Shapes at the KHS Group, explains: „Our aim was to produce the most environmentally friendly reusable solution possible. Two parameters are particularly important for this: a low weight and a high proportion of recycled material."
The high recyclate content of up to 35% has a positive effect on the environmental balance of the lightweight 1-litre bottle. (Image: KHS)
Reusable bottle impresses with its low weight
Thanks to Optimisation of the base and neck of the bottle the packaging specialists achieved a significant weight reduction compared to conventional returnable PET containers. At 55 grams, the 1-litre bottle is on average 10 grams lighter than its conventional counterparts. Compared to glass containers, it even weighs only a tenth as much.
(Image: KHS)
„This optimisation significantly reduces the use of materials. At the same time, fuel consumption and therefore CO2-emissions during transport. Both have a positive effect on the bottle's environmental footprint.“ Arne Wiese, Product Manager Bottles & Shapes at the KHS Group
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Despite its low material usage, the reusable solution is Ideally designed for high circulation rates. The PET bottle is highly resistant to alkaline solutions so that the quality and appearance are retained even after numerous washing cycles.
Packaging solution with high recycled content
The aspects of recycling friendliness and the use of recyclates also played an important role in the development. The environmentally friendly reusable bottle can not only be 100 per cent recycled and thus remains in the material cycle, but also convinces due to their high recyclate content.
„We have achieved excellent test results with preforms made from up to 35 per cent recycled material, and preforms containing 50 per cent recycled material are also conceivable for some markets.“ Arne Wiese
This means that the PET solution from KHS and ALPLA clearly the European Commission target of 30 per cent recyclate use for non-returnable PET bottles by 2030.
The optimised preforms can be used on all KHS stretch blow molders for returnable containers. blown. This also includes the particularly resource-saving InnoPET Blomax Series V. The new packaging solution is suitable for for every type of beverage widely used in the reusable segment. „We are convinced that we can place our environmentally friendly PET bottle on the market quickly and successfully. Our aim is to realise the market launch in close cooperation with bottling companies,“ explains Wiese.
